Based on polling conducted Feb. 18-20, 2008

The percentage of Americans calling conditions "poor" was 25% at the start of 2008, grew to 34% in late January, but then settled back to 32% for much of the first half of February. In recent days, however, it has been routinely hitting 34% and 35%.

Public perceptions about the economy's direction are also worse than they were right after New Year's. The percentage saying conditions are getting worse grew from 74% at the start of January to 82% toward the end of the month. However, this figure has been fairly stable in February, ranging between 77% and 80%.

Methodology: Gallup is interviewing no fewer than 1,000 U.S. adults nationwide each day during 2008. The results reported here are based on combined data from 1,497 interviews conducted Feb. 18-20, 2008. For results based on this sample, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Slightly more Americans agree (52%) than disagree (45%) that the federal government is responsible for making sure all Americans have healthcare coverage. This balance of views is similar to last year.

Americans' daily self-reports of spending averaged $98 in November, up from $93 in October. The latest figure is the highest average recorded for the month of November since Gallup began tracking consumer spending in 2008.